Cutter chain



L. E. SIMMONS CUTTER CHAIN Filed June ,8, 1943 April 1Q 1947.

' [22216222029 6022 E'mlms.

Patented Apr. 1, 1947 CUTTER CHAIN Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assigner to .ley Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiication June 8, 1943, Serial N0. 490,057

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cutter chains and more particularly to improved supporting and Yholding means for the cutter bits of a cutter chain especially designed for use in the cutting of coal or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutter chain. Another object is to provide an improved supporting and holding means for the cutter bits of a cutter chain. A further object is to provide an improved bit holder and chain block construction for supporting and holding a cutter bit in cutting position in an improved manner. A still further object is to provide an improved chain block having improved means for positioning and seating a cutter bit in cutting position on the block lug. Yet another object is to provide an improved bit holder having a bit receiving opening extending completely through the head thereof, and a iront abutment against which the inner portion of the active cutting face of the bit rests for lpreventing forward displacement of the bit from the head opening. Still another object is to provide an improved bit holder having a bit receiving opening so formed as to permit forward withdrawal of the cutter bit from the holder past the front bit abutment. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a cutter bit constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the block, bit holder and cutter bit in front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the bit holder and cutter bit in operative position on the block lug.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the bit holder and cutter bit in partially released position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of thev improved bit holder.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the improved rear block abutment element.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cutter bit.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention the improved cutter chain, generally designated I, comprises a series of chain blocks 2 Vpivotally connected by usual strap'links 3. There is but one chain block shown in the drawing and this has a lateral lug 4 formed with a socket 5, and has a front threaded opening 6 for receiving a conventional set screw l. The block lug 4 has an outer surface 8 and secured as by `Welding to the block lug at the rear side of the socket 5 is a rear lug abutment element 9 having a shank IG projecting within a recess II disposed at the rear side of the lug socket and having a projection I2 tted in a bore I3 in the lug. Th-e abutment element 9 has an outer head portion I4 resting on the outer surface 8 of the block lug and formed with a socket I5 for receivinga portion of the cutter bit in a manner to be later explained. The socket I5 has an inclined outer wall I6 and opens at Il through the rear side of the abutment element at the back of the block lug. The socket I5 has an inner wall I8 parallel with the Wall I6 and the upper portion of the socket is shaped to conform to the shape of the cutter bit. The abutment element 9 is, from certain aspects of the invention, best illustrative of any suitable means for limiting relative movement of the rear end of the bit with respect to the block.

The improved bit holder, generally designated I9, has a shank 2li received in the block lug socket 5, and this shank is formed with a rearward projection 2I having its upper Surface underlying an inclined surface 22 on the abutment element 9. The block lug is transversely grooved completely thereacross at 23, and the holder has an enlarged outer head portion24 which projects within this lug groove in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The holder head is formed with a forwardly -and outwardly `inclined bit-receiving opening 25 extending completely therethrough, and the forward side of the holder has an integral projection 25 providing a rearwardly facing abutment surface 2l. Received in the holder head opening is a cutter bit 23 herein having relatively inclined cutting faces 29 lying in the sides of a triangle. The cutter bit is of substantially diamond shape in cross -section` and the cutting faces are of elongated diamond shape. The cutting-faces terminate in Vcutting points 3o at the opposite ends of the bit at the same side of the bit. When the cutter bit is heldin cutting position on the chain block lug the inner portion of the cutter bit projects within the socket I5. in

the cutter bit at the base of the triangle engages the upper inclined surface of the holder head opening 25, and the upper portion of the holder head opening is shaped to conform to the shape of the cutter bit in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The lower portion of the bit receiving opening is enlarged at 3| to permit some lateral tilting movement of the bit in the opening for a purpose to be later explained. The inner portion of the active cutting face of the cutter bit rests against the abutment surface 21 of the front holder projection 26. When the bit holder is firmly held in bit holding position by the set screw 1, the projection 2| on the holder shank 20 has its upper surface underlying the surface 22 on the shank of the abutment element 9 so that in the event the set screw becomes slightly loosened, the holder will still be prevented from outward displacement form the block lug socket 5. The forward inner portion of the holder head 24 is forwardly and outwardlyT inclined at 32 and between Ythis inner head surface and a forward inclined surface 33 of the lug groove 23, there is provided a space 34 to permit forward tilting of the holder on the block.

When it is desired to release the cutter bit from the holder, this may be accomplished simply lby loosening the set screw 'I to permit forward tilting of the holder from the position shown in Fig. 3 to V` theposition shown in Fig. 5 with the upper forward surface of the holder shank 20 resting at 35 against the forward wall of the block lug socket 5.Y In this position the upper surface of the projection 2l on the bolder shank is moved forwardly from beneath the surface 22 on the rear lug abutment 9. As the holder istilted forwardly into the position shown, the inner portion of the cutter bit is moved forwardly within the socket I5 in the abutment element 9. thereby enabling, due to the bottom enlargement 3l of the holder head opening, tilting of the cutter bit in the opening into the position shown in Fig. 5. As the cutter bit is moved into the tilted position shown, the inner portion of the active cutting face of the cutter bit is moved forwardly over the front abutment surface 21 of the front projection 26 so that the cutter bit may be freely withdrawn forwardly from the holder. The cutter bit may then -be turned end for end to present a sharp cutting point to the work and reinserte'dl in the holder. When the parts are moved into theoperative position shown in Fig. 3 with a rear surface. 36 of the holder head resting against an inclined forward surface 31 of the abutment element 9, the set screw may be tightened firmly to clamp the parts Vin position on the block.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved cutter chain is provided having improved means for supporting and holding the .cutter bit in cutting position on the lug of a chain block. It will furthery be evident that by the provision of the rearV welded abutment on the or otherwise distorted preventing rearward withdrawal of the cutter bit from the holder head opening. By the provision of the improved bit vreceiving opening in the holder and the particular arrangement of the iront holder abutment, the

l cutter bit may be securely held inV cutting position and may be readily removed from the holder opening in a forward direction. By resting the inner end of the bit directly against a surface on the block, an extremely stable support for the bit is attained. By lsocketing the bit in the welded rear abutment on the block, tilting of the bit, tending to release the holder, is prevented. Other uses and advantages of the improved cutter chain will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What lV claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a lateral lug provided with a socket, a holder having a head and a shank, the latter being receivable in said lug socket, said holder head having a bit receiving opening extending completely therethrough, a cutter bit received in said opening with its inner end resting against said block lug, saidholder head having a forward projection providing a rearwardly facing abutment surface against which the forward end of the bit rests when the bit is in cutting position in said opening, and said bit receiving opening being of such size and so formed as to permit tilting of the cutter bit therein to release the forward end of the`bit from engagement with said abutment surface so that the bit may be withdrawn forwardly from said bit receiving opening past said projection, and means on said chain block lug rearwardly of said lug socket providing a socket separate from said lug socket for receiving the inner end of the cutter bit to position the bit with its inner end resting on said block lug.

2. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a lateral lug provided with a socket, a holder having a head and a shank, the latter being receivable in said lug socket, said holder head having a bit receiving opening extending completely therethrough, a cutter bit received in said opening with its inner end resting against said/block lug, said holder head having a forward projection providing a rearwardly facing abutment surface against which the forward end of the bit rests when the bit is in cutting position in said opening, and said bit receiving opening being of such size and so formed as to permit tilting of the cutter bit therein to release the forward end of the bit from engagement with said abutment surface so that the bit may vbe withdrawn forwardly from said bit receiving opening past said projection, and means on saidchain block lug rearwardly of said lug socket providing a socket separate from said lug socket for receiving the inner end of the cutter bit to position the bit with its inner end resting on said block lug, said lug socket and said holder being so shaped 4as to permit tilting of said holder, while theholder shank remains in said lug socket, forwardly in said lug socket to effect release of the inner end of the bit from said socket in said socket-providing means; .Y

3, In a cutter chain, a chain 4block having a lateral lug provided with asocket and anabutment element projecting outwardly from .the block lug at the rear side of said socket, said abutment element being provided with a socket adapted to receive the inner end of a cutter bit, the inner wall of said last mentioned socket providing a seating surface for the inner end of the cutter bit when the latter is disposed in cutting position, a holder having a head and a shank, the latter being receivable in the block lug socket, and said head having a bit receiving opening extending completely therethrough, and a cutter bit received in said holder head opening with its inner end projecting into said abutment-element socket and resting against said inner socket wall.

4. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a lateral lug provided with a socket and an abutment element projecting outwardly from the block lug at the rear side of said socket, said abutment element being provided with a socket adapted to receive the inner end of a cutter bit, the inner wall of said last mentioned socket providing a seating surface for the inner end of the cutter bit, a holder having a head and a shank, the latter being receivable in the block lug socket, and said head having a bit receiving opening extending completely therethrough, and a cutter bit received in said holder head opening with its inner end projecting into said abutment-element socket and resting against said inner wall, said holder head having a front projection providing a rearwardly facing abutment surface against which the forward end of the cutter bit rests to prevent forward release of the bit from its cutting position in said head opening, said bit receiving opening being so formed as to permit tilting of the cutter bit therein to release the forward end of the bit from said abutment surface to enable forward withdrawal of the bit from said opening past said front projection.

5. In a -cutter chain, a chainblock having a lateral lug provided with a socket, said block having an outwardly projecting abutment element secured thereto at the rear side of said socket, said abutment element having a socket separate from said lug socket, a bit holder having a head and a shank, the latter being receivable in 6. In a mounting for cutter bits, a cutter bit holder having a shank and a holder portion having an opening for receiving and surrounding a cutter bit, said opening inclined forwardly and outwardly and receiving the body of a cutter bit, and said holder portion further having an inte-gral Vfront portion projecting forwardly for engagement with the forward cutting face of the bit when the bit is in cutting position in said opening to preclude release of the bit from the holder opening in a direction outwardly and forwardly, and a chain block having a socket for receiving said shank, a surface rearwardly of said shank I receiving socket and engageable by the inner end of the bit, and means stationary with respect to said block and relative to which said holder is movable providing an abutment engaging the bit for holding the inner end of the bit inwardly against said block surface and for limiting sliding movement of the bit rearwardly with respect to said block surface. LEON E. SIMMONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

